Kouraibashi Nomura Building, Commercial building in Chuo-ku, Japan.
The Kouraibashi Nomura Building is a seven-story commercial structure in Chūō-ku with a distinctive facade featuring stonework, dark tiles, and a bright upper section. The main front has three clear layers with tilted spandrel walls and decorative tile bands running beneath each window.
Architect Takeo Yasui designed this structure in 1927 for Tokushichi Nomura II. It was built during a period when the Nomura banking group was rapidly opening new branch offices across Japan.
The building reflects how Japan's architecture began mixing traditional techniques with modern design ideas during the early 1900s. You can see this blend in the stonework and tile patterns that cover the facade.
This working office building has limited public access since it remains in active business use. Your best view comes from walking past and examining the architectural details on the outside of the facade.
The spandrel walls are deliberately tilted to solve the design challenge of a narrow, shallow building site. This unusual angle gives the structure its distinctive look and shows how the architect worked creatively within strict space limitations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
